4 lit

FAMILY HERBAL.

to resolve viscid humours, strengthen the stomach and cure theflatulent colic. Externally, the berries are employed in the decoctionfor fomentation.

Bears-Foot, is a perennial plant, a native of England, growing wild inmeadows and shady places—part used, The leaves—sens. prop.Smell, disagreeable; taste, bitterish, and very acrid—med. virt.Anthelmintic—mode of exhib. From five to fifteen grains of thedried leaves may be given; or a drachm may be taken in the form ofdecoction; or one to three tea-spoonfrls of the expressed juice of thefresh leaves, made into a syrup with coarse sugar, are given everymorning and evening, to children five or six years old; or two drachmsto half an ounce of the dried leaves being infused in a pint of boilingwater, a cupful or two is frequently given as a domestic medicine todestroy worms. It ought to be given very sparingly at first, theseleaves being so violent in their operation, when incautiously taken, asto have produced ffctal effects.

Benzoine, or Benjamin:—A concrete resin, exuding from an East Indiantree—sens. prop. Very fragrant, with little taste. The flowers ofBenjamin produced by sublimation are very pungent and saline—med.virt. Stimulent; vulnerary—mode of exhib. Dissolved in rectifiedspirit for external purposes. It may also be employed in vapour. Theflowers are taken internally in substance, in doses of five to ten grains,mixed up with simple syrup, in asthmatic and other pectoral diseases

Bistort-Root, or Snake-Weed: A perennial plant, growing wild in moistsituations—part used, The root—sens. prop. A strong simple astrin-gent—med. virt. Tonic—mode of exhib. Powder; decoction; in-fusion. This is one of the strongest of our vegetable astringents. Dr.Cullen frequently employed it, by itself, and with gentian, in agues.He gave it to the quantity of three drachms in one day.

Bole, French: An earth of the argillaceous kind, impregnated withiron—sens. prop. Absorbent, astringent—med. virt. Desiccative—mode of exhib. Powder; electuary ; liniment.

Brook-lime: A low plant, growing in wet ditches—part used, The herb—sens. prop. Roughish, bitterish, slightly pungent—med. virt.Antiseptic—mode of exhib. Eaten crude. The expressed juice mayalso be taken as an antiseptic.

Broom: A shrubby papilionaceous plant, growing wild—part used, Thegreen twigs and seeds—sense, prop. Bitter and nauseous—med. virt.Aperient and diuretic—mode of exhib. The twigs in infusion, fromwhich an extract is also prepared. The seeds in substance. A decoc-tion of green broom drank freely, with the occasional addition ofspirit of nitrous aether, is useful in anasarcous cases.

Buckbean: A perennial plant, growing in marshy situations—part used,The leaves—sens. prop. Simply bitter—-med. virt. Tonic, aperient,stomachic—mode of exhib. Infusion.

Buckthorn: A prickly bush, growing in hedges—part used, The root—sens. prop. Smell, ungrateful; taste bitter, acrid, nauseous—med. virt.Strongly purgative—mode of exhib. The expressed juice, with the ad-dition of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and sugar, is formed into a syrup,that is often added to purgative lavements.

Burdock: A plant with compound flowers contained in prickly heads,